How can we motivate students to fight for their own interests in acquiring an education? How can we inspire them to do the hard work needed? Maybe they need to hear Malala speak. Please do your part to share her message with the children in your life.This might work for some students, but it won't work for most. Stories of amazing people doing amazing things don't necessarily inspire regular people to do regular things. Instead, it can make us feel ashamed for not wanting to do what we know we should.
In reality, it's normal to want to shirk our regular tasks. It too is natural for students to not want to go to school sometimes. It's okay for them to sometimes feel bored while at school. Frustrated too. I bet even Malala feels bored and frustrated occasionally, and these, too, are obstacles she has to overcome every day.
Talking about these everyday obstacles, and not just the extraordinary ones, will help students connect with Malala. Not every student has to take on the Taliban in order to get an education, but every student, including Malala, has to go to class, work hard and study. That's a struggle we all share.
